Anchor My Faith

Are You Part of the Bride?

Scripture: John 3:29-30

In our previous lesson it was mentioned that the next verse was a key verse for the section, which will introduce us to a new image. That verse is: “The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is now complete” (John 3:29 ESV). Jesus is the bridegroom and the bride is the multitude of people the Father has chosen, before the foundation of the world, to be given as a gift to his Son Jesus Christ. John the Baptist is of course the friend of the bridegroom who stands and hears the voice of the bridegroom and rejoices greatly and exclaims that his joy is now complete. Why does this voice cause such a response from John?

In John 1:23 the Baptist’s said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness.” It was a voice that gathered people together around him, but now there is another voice the people hear and it seems to be a greater and a stronger voice. This voice is spoken of in John 10:3 – 4 (ESV): “To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.” The sheep who follow him is the bride and they follow because the bridegroom has a voice and they know it. The plan has come into focus for John the Baptist and what he sees completes his joy. Jesus calls and those the Father has prepared will hear his voice and they will come. I think John can only imagine what a wonderful thing it is to be part of the bride of Jesus Christ.

Paul speaks of this bride in Ephesians 5:25 – 27 (ESV): “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” Once we are born spiritually and become part of the bride, whom Jesus gave himself up for, he then sets her apart to be made perfect through the word. Paul points out that this is to be the role of husbands with their wives while living together. The key element in this relationship is love and the word. How important do husbands see that today?

John cried out and gathered people to himself, but he could not provide them with salvation. John then instructs them to listen for the voice of Jesus, the bridegroom, and turn and go and follow him. John draws to himself but always points them to Jesus who is so much greater. The point John is making is so important for us to see and embrace: “[Jesus] must become more important while I become less important” (John 3:30 NET). We must never forget this principle and humbly direct people away from us to our loving savior.

Prayer

Father, I have often thought what it might be like when the bride is complete and we are all assembled in heaven and embraced by our Lord. We will then be perfect members of the body, children of the Father, all bonded together in unity by the indwelling Holy Spirit, and one with Christ. It seems that we are drawn into the very being of God in the Trinity. Being in and part of the very presence and existence of holiness, righteousness, and glory, is beyond my mind to grasp. Father, forgive me for not living as though I fully believed this.